1995 Felts

The Park, 1995

serigraph on feltsix felt image panels w/ 2 felt text panel 6 individual panels 34 x 22.5 inches (86.4 x 57.2 cm)overall dimensions 68 x 67.5 inches (172.7 x 171.5 cm)"The Park reorients the point of view of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954). The narrator of one text panel talks about using a telecope to spy from the windows of a high-rise on the nearby buildings and park, while the other speaks of a character in many guises (sociologist, voyuer, sting operator) observing private acts in a men's room." -Joan Simon

The Park, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:Just unpacked a new shiny silver telescope. And we are up high enough for a really good view of all the buildings and the park. The living room window seems to be the best spot for it. On the sidewalk below a man watches figures from across the path.

The Park, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:It is early evening, the lone sociologist walks through the park, to observe private acts in the men's public bathrooms. These facilities are men's and women's rooms back to back. He focuses on the layout of the men's room -right to left: basin, urinal, urinal, urinal, stall, stall. He decides to adopt the role of voyeur and look out in order to go unnoticed and noticed at the same time. His research take several years. He names his subjects A, B, C, X, Y, and O, records their activities for now, and their license plates when applicable for later.

The Bed, 1995

The Bed, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:It is late, decided to have a quick nightcap at the hotel having checked in earlier that morning. Hotel security is curious and knocks on the door to inquire as to what's going on, given our surroundings we suspect that maybe we have broken "the too many dark people in the room code." More privacy is attained depending on what floor you are on, if you are in the penthouse suite you could be pretty much assured of your privacy, if you were on the 6th or 10th floor there would be a knock on the door.

The Clocktower, 1995

The Clocktower, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:He can hear sighs and conversations of people collecting in the hall waiting for elevators, heading out of the building, the telephone rings."Good, I hoped that you were still here.""Yeah, well I thought that it might be you.""Where do you want to meet?""Well, they are still under construction on the 15th floor and the union guys are out of there by now and I think they have finished a few of the offices with good views. Wait a second... I don't hear the muffled power tools. Want to go there?""Sure, I have not been down there as yet.""What about the rooftop conference room? Was there anything scheduled there today?""I don't think so, but we will have to take the stairs to get up there...the west staircase is always an option a little later if you still have work to do.""Naw, I'm almost finished.""What time do you have?""8:20.""I'll meet you in the hall at a quarter to.""Okay.""Bye."

The Rock, 1995

The Rock, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:Female Trouble: Divine has just left home after an argument over a Christmas gift, and storms out of the hosue. She is picked up on the highway by an auto-mechanic (played by Divine). They approach a wooden area and have frantic sex on a mattress, by the side of the road.

The Rock, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:Driving all day long, has induced a hypnotic state upon both of us. It is definitely time to pull over. I recognize the state park that we are now in the middle of, and can endure a few more minutes of this drive in order to find the same spot I went to last time I was here. Hoping that this search will not turn into another journey, since I didn't make any mental notes of the surroundings during my last visit, I'm ill prepared, and not really wanting to appear too familiar with the area. I make an effort this time to commit this trip to memory. But here we are, sick of driving. We get out of the car and start to hike to find a spot and it will probably replace the last one, completely. Haven't seen any weekend hikers for a while and since we are miles away from any rest stops it seems plausible that we will not be patrolled. I asked, "How's this?""Is it secluded enough for you?"

The Car, 1995

The Car, 1995 (text detail)

TEXT PANEL:I could hear the voices of a couple arguing in the distance. It sounds as though they have entered the arcade, but only their voices have entered, and linger for a while even after they have passed the opening and continue on their way. The intensity of their voices indicates an argument, but I am not really concentrating on them completely. It seems as though even if they had walked through they would not have noticed the presence of anyone, let alone anyone having sex. It is around noon time, other than that and you can hear a pin drop in this echo chamber. An open car door, the perfect hour, perfect opportunity. We get into the car, which becomes a small cramped room within a larger room.